Blog Details

Best Web Design Software, Tools, and Free Resources For 2019

To 48% of consumers, a website’s design speaks for the credibility of the business. What do you think?

Clearly, design is a powerful instrument that helps to make a statement about the company or designer. Perhaps that is why you are here. Are you looking to dabble in the world of web design? Maybe you are sharpening your skills as you prepare for the new year.

Regardless of the reason, you have landed on the right page! This leading crew of Boston web designexperts brings you this list of the best resource’s designers are using today.

To make things easier, the list is broken down into three sections to discuss paid, free, and beginners’ software options. Furthermore, you can learn about a number of related tools that will make your life 10 times easier.

But first Consider these points:

What Are The Tools to Create a Website?

This note is for the people who are new to web design. Often people ask which tools they should use for creating websites. This question is a difficult one to answer, as thefavored web designing software and tools can vary based on skill level, goals, and interests.

Take your time and thoroughly research the different platforms and try out a few tutorials. Eventually, you’ll build up a set of important skills that you can someday master. Start building your skills today, by checking out some of the gems on the following list.

Top 10 Web Design Software

When you’re looking to sharpen your skills and knowledge, it’s helpful to find out which sources for web designers are trending. With trending programs, you can find tons of videos, tutorials and other information to help you out.

Not to mention, knowledge of commonly used and popular software puts you in a better position to get a job in the field. So, take a look at the list below, and give some of these suggestions a whirl.

Web Design Software (Paid)

Adobe Photoshop – $9.99 Monthly – This software is nearly a requirement for anybody interested in web design. Photoshop is a go-to for all things concerning digital design. Its abilities extend far beyond web design and into the world of custom graphics, visualizations, transformations and filter layering.

Not to mention, of course, it can alter images and graphics with basically no limitations. It’s an extremely powerful software to add to your web designing tools list. At one point or another, you are likely going to need this program.

Balsamiq Mockup 3 – Pay $89 Once – This is perfect for assisting you in the wireframing process. Not to mention, for a $5 monthly fee, you can save your work to Google Drive, which makes it much easier for collaboration. In fact, it was designed with collaboration and client communication in mind.

This tool has a pleasant look and feel to it that keeps you focused and stimulates your creative ideas. Furthermore, it has drag and drop elements that make it quick to use and easy to navigate. Balsamiq has a smooth learning curve, making it easy for beginners to master. You can download this for either Windows or Mac computers.

Sublime Text 2 – Pay $80 Once – This is a tool for the code savvy designer. Sublime Text 2 is a code editor that far surpasses others of its kind. The best part is, it’s compatible with both Windows and Mac. If you want to try this one out, go ahead and download it for free and do their trial run.

This software has some features that users really love, such as split screen editing, or bulk editing for multiple sections of code at a time. It also allows work in syntax highlighting and flexible customizations.

Adobe Muse – $14.99 Monthly – No Wi-Fi where you’re going? No problem! Just download Adobe Muse, the offline website builder software. This is a great tool for less technical designers who prefer the safety of drag and drop builders.

Lots of people like Adobe Muse because they don’t need to know code to design a website with it. Even when you want to add another advanced feature last minute, this is done easily with Muse. Though it’s easy to learn, there are many different facets to it. Therefore, this software is one that you can continue to grow with.

For those not totally committed to the design life just yet, or those with less financial backing, there are plenty of free design tools as well. Sure, they don’t always have the luster of the brand name Software, but they get the job done.

Web Design Software (Free)

Free software can be just as good, if not better, than the software people are paying for. Don’t be afraid to check out some of these budget-friendly options. Especially for people who are experimenting, these pose a risk-free opportunity. So why not try them out?

GIMP – Free – if you recognize the value of Photoshop, then you’ll appreciate GIMP; it’s a free alternative. This Software is stable, easy to use and bug free. It has a robust tool set that allows for advanced graphic design. Still, its simple interface is one that allows newbies to get familiar with the program.

Like Photoshop, you can use this software to adjust different elements in an image or graphic. Use This to make banners and other web graphics, convert images and much more.

6. Macaw – Free – This is one of the best tools for developers that like front-end work. Though not as easy for beginners to learn, it is well worth the time it takes to master it. People enjoy it for its flexibility in editing images and access to attractive typography and system fonts.

WordPress – Free – Have you been wondering: what is the most popular web design software? WordPress is your answer. After all, this software powers 32%of all websites on the internet. You literally cannot avoid this, so you may as well learn it; and learn it well.

For the most part, this is a free platform, but it does come with expenses if you want to upgrade your features. It’s great for building custom website and has a learning curve that suits both beginners and the longtime dabblers. Just make sure to differentiate WordPress.com (for beginners) from WordPress.org (for experienced designers).

This tool is phenomenal in creating striking, responsive web pages. It assists your process by converting your designs into CSS or HTML code for you. Updates are made easy with this software as it allows changes to post in real time. Not to mention, you can download design into your personal library for future projects.

There are some other tools that are great for beginners. People who are still exploring and learning a lot have some free and low-priced options. Meanwhile, the novice who is ready to get serious about web design has some powerful options too.

Best Web Design Software for Beginners

Sketch – Pay $99 Once – This Mac-compatible platform has quickly risen in popularity in the 10 years since its creation. Although often compared to Photoshop, Sketch differs in that it’s focused is narrowed down to web designing. It’s often favored because of the user-friendly features and easily navigable functions.

For example, it converts designs in to CSS, which is extremely useful for beginners. Not to mention it can also easily convert files into a variety of different formats. Use Sketch to create stunning graphics that can rescale as needed without compromising the quality. Furthermore, it is compatible on mobile devices for work on the go.

WebFlow – $12 Monthly Per Website – Though this is considered to be a website builder, it’s not as simple and straightforward as other programs of its type. The learning curve is steep but rewarding. This is for the person who wants deeper learning about web design.

This tool provides a sort of full circle experience for web designers. It guides you through the creation of a website on to publishing and managing the work. In this way, it’s not only convenient but also user-friendly, as it doesn’t require knowledge of coding.

Adobe Dreamweaver – $29.99 Monthly – At first this software may seem intimidating, but you will quickly learn to love it. This is great for making custom websites, with few boundaries in place. The code editor sits next to the live view, for a more comfortable set up. This is also helpful for people who are trying to learn. One great feature about this software is that the website can be built on this platform and then exported into a real website.

Now that the best professional web design software has been identified, you can check out these other awesome tools that will make your life as a web designer or developer much easier.

Other Web Developer Resources to Try in 2019

These other tools are still worth mentioning. There are tons of others out there just like them. Some work better than others, of course, so it’s best to learn through research, trial and error. For now, here is a quick description of some resources to help steer you in the right direction.

Maze: A powerful analytic tool that gathers data about how users are interacting with your prototype.

Pictaculous– A smart pallet tool that allows you to extract the color scheme from an uploaded photo.

LightShot: A helpful screenshot tool that allows editing and sharing of screenshots taken from any part of the screen.

Logo Lab: A diverse logo testing tool that helps you identify and perfect any unperceived errors with the graphic.

WAMP / MAMP:A useful tool that allows you to test your website in a realistic way to make sure everything is working properly. One of the best free web design software testers.

Hopefully this web designing software list was helpful! Again, it cannot be emphasized enough to take your time choosing and learning the tools that are right for you. Remember that Web Design is an art form that is continuously growing, and an industry in high demand. So, you always have time to learn how to create a quality product.

Categories

I cannot say enough good things about TNIT. Ali contained me right after I had submitted a consult questionnaire and we set up a meeting. I knew right away I wanted to work with him and his team as he was professional genuine and patient. I just had a very good feeling overall after out interaction and felt confident I had found the right team to help me build my dream website. Over the course of almost a year Ali and his team remained extremely patient with me as we worked on creating a site that represented me and my ideas. When all was said and done I could not be happier with the end result! The site is absolutely stunning! The quality of the website is top notch and aside from being very attractive it is easy to navigate for both myself and viewers. Im so grateful to have been guided to TNIT services and I am excited to continue to work with them as my business grows. I know that I am in the best hands going forward or should I have any issues. Overall I had a great experience and highly recommend working with them to help you achieve a strong foundation for your website and business. Not only is the work they do top of the line but the customer service and genuine care for supporting your vision is uncommonly exceptional.

If you're starting a new business or upgrading an existing site, I strongly recommend TopNotch for your web design and development needs. Ali and his team worked very hard to create what I had envisioned for my website.I was very impressed with the quality of work, customer care, and meticulous attention to detail. I will surely refer them to any business associates who are looking for quality web designers!

Amazing customer service!!! I went on free consultation with Ali today. He is very smart and professional. He told me a lot of good ideas for my website. He taught me some marketing strategy for my business. Ali told me what supposed to be more important on my website. To be honest after our meeting I got “little wings” behind my back:) When I came back to work I start planning my strategy. Thank you very much for your help! I appreciate. Have a nice day:)

Unbelievable Customer Service!! Gave me a free consultation and explained everything step by step. These guys are here not only here for business but because they truly have a passion for what they do. Great customer service! Outstanding work! Pleasure to do business with from beginning to end!!

Top Notch Innovative Technologies helped me launch my business with a stunning website. I was very impressed with the result. Great professional service with great looking results. I would highly recommend Top Notch Innovative Technologies for web design and marketing.

Top Notch is just that! Great customer service and follow up. Ali gave a free consult and was very informative, I learned so much. I look forward to working with the team and I am excited to see how my business will grow because of them. I highly recommend Top Notch and the professionalism they bring to the table.

We were having issues with the cart system of our website and so we were looking for an ecommerce web developer that could fix it and provide us responsive web design services for the future. TopNotch proved to be the best choice that we could make on Cape Cod.

Working with Ali is such a joy! He is creative, respectful and helpful. He has created a website that shows my branding in an authentic way. Ali is never condescending to me, even though I am a bit technologically challenged. Ali’s services are very reasonably priced. I would recommend working with him wholeheartedly!

If you're starting a new business or upgrading an existing site, I strongly recommend TopNotch for your web design and development needs. Ali and his team worked very hard to create what I had envisioned for my website.I was very impressed with the quality of work, customer care, and meticulous attention to detail. I will surely refer them to any business associates who are looking for quality web designers!